Mela postponed as Pak fails to give visa to 1,000 Indians
Jalandhar, November 26
The two-day Aman Mela in Lahore, which was billed to attract 1000 Indians from several states, has been postponed due to the failure of the Pakistan High Commission to grant visas. The mela was to start in Lahore today.

Pak play presents balanced view on Kashmir
Amritsar, November 26The Interactive Resource Centre, a theatrical group of Pakistan, which gave the slogan “theatre is a weapon and it is the people who should wield it”, yesterday staged a play, “Aman”, which presented a balanced view on the Kashmir problem.

Chandigarh, November 26
The Pakistan based Punjabi writer, Najm Hossain Syed, is not inclined to accept the Punjabi Sahit Shiromani Sahitkar Award for the year 2001, which is to be given to him by the Punjab Languages Department on December 3 at Patiala.

Najm Hossain Syed

Vedanti issues notices to US gurdwara management
Amritsar, November 26
The Sikh high priests are likely to take action against Mr Gurtej Singh , a former professor of Sikhism and certain other NRI Sikh leaders, for their continuous support to Mr Gurbax Singh Kala Afghana, a cop-turned-Sikh scholar, who was excommunicated from the Sikh Panth.

Varsities bar further counselling, students left in the lurch
Jalandhar, November 26
Hundreds of B.Ed aspirants all over the state, who had been waiting for a fourth counselling for getting admission against vacant seats in education colleges, have been left in the lurch following the recent decision of the universities to bar further admissions.

Canada Sikhs urged to unite on turban issue
Amritsar, November 26
Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, today urged the Sikhs residing in Canada to unite on the turban issue. The Canada Sikhs have been protesting against the ban on wearing turban in front of the French Embassy in Canada.

Display of splendour at Harmandar Sahib
Amritsar, November 26
Historic precious jewellery, artifacts, gems, stones and other wares were displayed in “jalao” at Harmandir Sahib on the occasion of Gurpurb of Guru Nanak Dev here today.

‘Class of 84’ brings Rajit home
Amritsar, November 26
It was a homecoming for Rajit Kapur, a renowned theatre, television and cine artist. Born in the city, he was here to perform in “Class of 84”.
Rajit Kapur of “Zubeida” fame said it was a tremendous experience to act in
his hometown.

Declare Kukas as freedom fighters: MP
Chandigarh, November 26
The Punjab Rajya Sabha member, Mr Ashwani Kumar, has taken up with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the issue of getting Kuka and Ghaddar movements declared as integral parts of the country’s freedom struggle.

Five deaths later, village says no to drugs
Chitti (Jalandhar), November 26
Shocked over what drugs had done to the village, killing five of its youths in three months, the village has become the first village in Punjab which has resolved to keep drugs at bay and has warned drug peddlers against operating in the village.

Kharar MC not to give NOC to PUDA approved colonies
Kharar, November 26The local Municipal Council yesterday decided not to issue no-objection certificates in future to PUDA-approved colonies within the municipal
limits. This decision was taken at a general House meeting of the civic
body here.

Labour unions hold protest march
Sangrur, November 26On the call of the Joint Platform of Mass Organisations, comprising Zamhoori Kisan Sabha, Dihati Mazdoor Sabha, Punjab Subordinate Services Federation, Lal Jhanda Bhatha Mazdoor Union, Punjab etc, a large number of labourers, farmers, brick kiln workers and youths today took out a protest march in the town against the government and raised slogans in support of their demands.

Temple’s tank remains dry on annual mela
Amritsar, November 26
Thousands of devotees from all over the country returned disappointed due to the absence of water in the holy tank of the ancient Ram Tirath temple where its annual mela concluded on the occasion of “Kartik Purnima” today.

A view of the empty ‘sarovar’ of the ancient Ram Tirath temple in Amritsar on Friday.
— Photo by Rajiv Sharma

Virasat Mela begins today
Bathinda, November 26
All arrangements have been made for the first-ever-two-day Virasat Mela (heritage festival) of Bathinda, which will begin on November 27 in the local Sports Stadium. The mela is being organised by the newly formed Bathinda Region Heritage Foundation.

Disabled ex-PSEB employee awaits benefits
Moga, November 26
Mr Dil Bahadur, an ex-employee of the Punjab State Electricity Board, who became disabled in an accident while on duty, is still awaiting provident fund and other benefits due to him.

Dil Bahadur along with his wife and children at his Moga residence.
— Photo by Iqbal Singh

Chemists selling intoxicating drugs warned
Faridkot, November 26
Deputy Commissioner Alok Shekhar has said the district administration has received a list of city chemists who are making money by openly selling intoxicating drugs.
Addressing a special meeting of chemists from Jaito, Kotkapura and Sadik last
evening, the DC warned the chemists selling intoxicating drugs to stop this
trade immediately failing which strict action would be taken against them.

Sarpanch to face inquiry for selling woman, child
Amritsar, November 26
The Majitha police have decided to hold inquiry in the alleged selling of woman and her child by the Sarpanch of Bhindi Saidan village here. Mr R. P. S. Bajwa, SSP Majitha police district, has ordered Mr Manmohan Singh, DSP, to enquire into the matter.

Confined to room for 25 years
Mansa, November 26
Destiny seems to have sentenced Mohinder Singh, a resident of Dulewala village of this district, to confinement. Hamir Kaur, the widowed mother of 45-year-old mentally retarded and mute Mohinder Singh, could not arrange treatment when he was young and now when the district administration has offered for his assistance to her for his treatment at a big hospital, outside the district, she has refused, saying that she can’t keep her son away from her.

Kang’s brother files rejoinder to SI’s claim
Chandigarh, November 26Dr G.B.S. Kang, brother of Youth Akali Dal leader Kiranbir Singh Kang, one of the main accused in the case of exchange of fire between two groups of Shiromani Akali Dal
supporters that left two persons dead and many injured, has filed a rejoinder to the claim of Sub Inspector
Ramandeep Singh.

Cotton prices crash below MSP
Bathinda, November 26
In a significant development which could have far reaching effects on the financial position of farmers, the prices of raw cotton have come down drastically and have gone below its minimum support price of Rs 1,815 at many places in Punjab.

Abducted girl raped for week; accused held
Jalandhar, November 26
A 19-year-old girl was, abducted from near the BMC chowk here and raped for one week.
According to the police, Samshad Ali, a rickshaw puller, in his complaint,
alleged that another rickshaw puller Sikandar, allegedly abducted her daughter
from near the BMC chowk on November 9.

4 of family hurt, one killed in car accident
Hoshiarpur, November 26
Four members of a family of Delhi and their driver were injured when their Maruti car No. (DL-76Q-6041) rammed into a tree near Khakh village on the Jalandhar-Pathankot road early this morning.

Singla calls for alumni funds to help universities
Patiala, November 26
The alumni meet of Punjabi University’s School of Management Studies today saw Punjab Finance Minister Surinder Singla urging old students to donate their first salary to the institution and set an example by contributing his one month’s salary of Rs 38,000 on the occasion.

Amarinder visits Punjabi varsity
Patiala, November 26
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today made it clear that no stone would be left unturned as far as preparations for the World Punjabi Conference and the Indo-Pak Games are concerned.

Unions to protest against killing of students
Bathinda, November 26
The joint front of seven student unions today gave a call for a rally on November 30 to protest against the murder of two students of Adesh Polytechnic College, Muktsar, by the driver of a bus belonging to Orbit Transport Company on November 22.